A protein-engineered triblock copolymer hydrogel composed of two self-assembling domains (SADs) has been fabricated by a photoactivatable diazirine group followed by ultraviolet (UV)-mediated crosslinking. The photocrosslinkable protein polymer CEC-D has been patterned into various features including different micrometer-scale stripes by using lithographic techniques. The patterned hydrogels are important for encapsulation of small molecules where a photopatterned fraction of 50% is optimal for maximum absorption. Stripe-patterned CEC-D_100–100 exhibits slightly lower swelling ratios, an 8.9 times lower erosion profile, and a 2.6-fold higher drug release compared to the unpatterned hydrogel control, CEC-D₀. Our studies demonstrate the potential of photocrosslinkable protein polymer hydrogels to be used as scaffolds for therapeutic delivery of small molecules. Through photolithographic techniques on the protein hydrogel, a variety of functionalities can be achieved by patterning different features enabling the mimicry of biological systems.

中文翻译：

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控制光致图案化蛋白质工程水凝胶的药物吸收，释放和侵蚀。

蛋白质工程化的三嵌段共聚物水凝胶由两个自组装结构域（SAD）组成，通过光活化的重氮基团随后进行紫外线（UV）介导的交联来制备。通过使用光刻技术，将可光交联的蛋白质聚合物CEC-D图案化为各种特征，包括不同的微米级条纹。图案化的水凝胶对于封装小分子非常重要，其中50％的光图案化部分对于最大吸收而言是最佳的。与无图案水凝胶对照品CEC-D ₀相比，具有条纹图案的CEC-D _100–100的膨胀率略低，侵蚀曲线降低8.9倍，药物释放率高2.6倍。我们的研究表明，可光交联的蛋白质聚合物水凝胶可用作小分子治疗性输送的支架。通过在蛋白质水凝胶上进行光刻技术，可以通过对不同的特征进行构图来实现模仿生物系统的各种功能。